Centrifugal apparatus for heat exchange



March 4, 1969 J. SCIAUX 3,430,690

CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS FOR HEAT EXCHANGE Filed Nov. 5, 1966 I N VE N TOR Jean SciaL/X B Y (QM, w? 7 ""77" United States Patent 14,373/ 65 11.8. Cl. 16588 Claims Int. Cl. F28f 5/00; F28d Z1/08,'Bll1d 1/22 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A nest of conical partitions is disposed in a centrifugal rotor coaxially thereof and forms a series of channels of which alternate channels are for passage of the liquid to be treated while the others are for passage of a heating medium, the liquid channels having inlets at the central portions of the conical partitions and having outlets at their outer peripheral portions. The liquid channels include a plurality of first liquid channels, each having its outlet opening into a first annular groove in the rotor, and at least one second liquid channel having its outlet opening into a second annular groove in the rotor, these annular grooves being separated from each other. The heated liquid discharged from the first liquid channels, which constitute a majority of the liquid channels, is pared from the first annular groove and conveyed to the inlet of the second liquid channel through which it flows at a higher rate due to the greater number of the first liquid channels, whereby the liquid is further heated without risk of burning-on and is then collected in the second annular groove for discharge from the rotor.

The present invention relates to centrifugal apparatus for effecting exchange of heat between a liquid and another medium, as for the purpose of concentrating or evaporating the liquid. More particularly, the invention relates to such apparatus of the type comprising a housing enclosing a rotor provided with a nest of coaxial conical partitions defining a series of channels of which alternate channels are adapted for passage of the liquid and the other channels are adapted for passage of the other medium, the channels for the liquid having their inlets at the central portions and their outlets at the outer peripheral portions of the conical partitions.

This type of apparatus as previously known has the drawback of not allowing a sufiiciently high concentration of the liquid or a sufiiciently extensive exchange of heat between the liquid and the other medium, because the conical partitions for practical reasons cannot be made so large that their surfaces form a flow path for the liquid long enough to permit the desired high concentration or heat exchange. Another drawback, especially in connection with concentration of liquids, is that while the liquid is bieng concentrated and thus becoming thicker, it is spread on a constantly increasing area due to the conicity of the partitions, whereby the liquid layer can become so thin or wet the surface so unevenly that the liquid is scorched and spoiled as a product.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks and to provide an arrangement for effecting an extremely high concentration of the liquid or an extensive heat exchange within a small space and without any risk of burning-on in connection with the concentration.

According to the invention, the channels for the liquid include at least one channel having its outlet opening into an annular groove in the rotor, and at least one other channel for the liquid has its outlet opening into another 3,430,690 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 "ice annular groove in the rotor, these grooves being separated from each other. Liquid in one of these grooves is pared therefrom by a paring means which conducts the pared liquid inwardly toward the rotor axis, the paring means having its inner end opening into the inlet of the liquid channel or channels discharging into the other of the two annular grooves.

Other features of the invention will appear from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which the single illustration is a vertical sectional View, partly in elevation, of one embodiment of the new apparatus.

In the drawing, a stationary housing 1 encloses a centrifugal rotor 2. The rotor comprises a nest of conical partitions 3 arranged coaxially relative to the rotor axis and divided into pairs. The partitions of each pair have inner or smaller diameter edges welded to a ring 4 and also have outer or larger diameter edges welded to rings 5, the welds being fluid-tight. Rings 5 are provided with bores 6 extending radially through the rings. Partitions 3 form between them conical channels 7 and 8, the alternate channels 8 serving for passage of the liquid, and the other channels 7 serving for passage of the other medium which can 'be a liquid, gas or steam. The conical channels 7 are closed at their inner and outer portions by the rings 4 and 5, respectively, but communicate through the bores 6 in rings 5 with an annular space 9 leading to space 10 in rotor 2, to which a heating medium, for example steam, is led through an axially extending channel 11 in a shaft 12 carrying rotor 2.

The conical channels 8 are open at their inner or smaller diameter portions, where they communicate with a space 13 between rotor 2 and housing 1. Space 13 is connected through a conduit 14 to a vacuum or suction apparatus (not shown). Channels 8 are closed at their outer or larger diameter portions but communicate through vertical channels 15 in rings 5 with an annular groove 16 in an annular member 17.

Rotor 2 has an outer jacket comprising several members 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22, the members 18, 19 and 20 being welded together. Member 18 is screwed or otherwise secured to shaft 12. Member 19 is provided at its lower part with a number of internal shoulders 23 against which rings 5, together with their partitions 3, are stacked on each other, the annular member 17 being arranged between the two uppermost rings 5. This stack of rings 5 and member 17 is clamped together and pressed against shoulders 23 by member 21 which, by means of threads or bolts (not shown), is arranged to be tightened against member 20. Sealing gaskets (not shown) are arranged between rings 5 and member 17.

A sealing gasket 24 is arranged between housing 1 and shaft 12. A tube 25 extends through channel 11 in shaft 12 into space 10 and then extends outwardly toward an annular groove 26 in rotor 2, where it terminates in a paring means 27.

The annular member 17 divides partitions 3 into two groups, one upper group and one lower group. The channels 8 of the lower group are arranged to discharge their liquid through the vertical channels 15 to the annular groove 16. From this groove, liquid is pared out by paring means 28 and is returned, by means of a tube 29 and a nozzle 30, to the liquid channel 8 of the upper group. From this upper channel 8, the liquid passes through the uppermost vertical channel 15 into an annular groove 31 in member 21, from which groove the liquid is pared out by a paring means 32 and collected outside housing 1 of the rotor.

The liquid to be concentrated or subjected to heat treatment in the rotor is fed through a tube 132 and is distributed by nozzles 33 to the inlets of the liquid chan nels 8 of the lower group.

Paring means 28 extends from the central part of the rotor outwardly and downwardly through a liquid channel 8 into the annular groove 16. Between paring means 28 and the next upper partition 3 is a protection plate 34, which prevents liquid from fiowing directly from the annular groove 16 to the vertical channel 15 situated above. Space 10 is closed by means of a plate 35 from communication with space 13, which overlies the holes of rings 4.

In operation, a heating medium is led through channel 11 into spaces 10 and 9 and from there passes through the radially extending bores 6 into channels 7 where the medium, if it is steam, is condensed and in the form of a liquid flows back to be collected in the annular groove 26, from which it is pared out and led away by paring means 27. The liquid to be concentrated or subjected to heat treatment is fed through tube 132 and nozzles 33, and, under the action of centrifugal force, is distributed in a thin layer of uniform thickness on the radially outer walls of the liquid channels 8 of the lower group. The liquid from these channels is collected in the vertical channels 15 from which it is displaced upwardly into the annular groove 16. Liquid in groove 16 is pared out by the paring means 28 and is led through tube 29 and nozzle 30 into the liquid channel or channels 8 of the upper group, where it is subjected to further concen tration or heat treatment, the liquid finally passing through the uppermost vertical channel 15 to the annular groove 31 from which it is pared by paring means 32 and collected outside housing 1. In the concentration of a liquid, evaporated steam is drawn away through tube 14.

The new apparatus thus makes it possible, within practically the same space as required heretofore, to concentrate a liquid or subject a liquid to heat treatment to a far greater extent than was previously possible with apparatus of this kind, and without any risk of burningon in connection with concentration, by collecting the concentrated liquid from the channels of the first group and further treating it within the channel or channels of the second group in a greater amount per channel.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for effecting heat exchange between a liquid and another medium, as for continuous concentration or evaporation of the liquid by means of said other medium, the combination of a housing, a centrifugal rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis and including a nest of conical partitions disposed coaxially relative to said axis, said partitions forming between them a series of channels of which alternate channels are adapted for passage of the liquid and the other channels are adapted for passage of the other medium, said channels for the liquid having inlets at the central portions of the conical partitions and having outlets at the outer peripheral portions of the conical partitions, the rotor having means forming first and second annular grooves separated from each other, said channels for the liquid including a plurality of first liquid channels each having its said outlet opening into said first annular groove and at least a second liquid channel having its said outlet opening into said second annular groove, said first liquid channels constituting a majority of said liquid channels, and paring means having one end disposed in said first annular groove for paring liquid therefrom and extending inwardly toward said rotor axis, the other end of said paring means opening into said inlet of said second liquid channel, whereby liquid discharged from said first liquid channels is conveyed to said inlet of said second liquid channel by way of said paring means.

2. The combination according to claim 1, in which said first annular groove is located in the rotor adjacent said outlet of said second liquid channel, said rotor means including a wall separating said first annular groove from said outlet of the second liquid channel.

3. The combination according to claim 1, in which said paring means extend along one of said liquid channels, said rotor means including a protection plate located in said one liquid channel between the paring means and the radially outer partition partly defining said one liquid channel.

4. The combination according to claim 1, in which said paring means extend along one of said liquid channels which is wider, in the direction of the rotor axis, than the other liquid channels.

5. The combination according to claim 1, comprising also second paring means leading from said second annular groove through the said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,617,760 11/1952 Burrows 159-6 2,894,879 7/ 1959 Hickman 159-18 3,092,180 6/ 1963 Dahlgren --88 3,221,807 12/1965 Johansson 165--88 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

T. W. STREULE, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 159-6 

